National disposal company Waste Management has announced San Diego will be among the first markets in the country for a roll out its new fleet of Rotopress trash collection units. The new trash trucks, a combination of natural-gas-powered semi trucks attached to trash trailers, will debut in Houston before pilot programs begin in local communities served by the company as well as in Sacramento, Milwaukee, and Camden, New Jersey.

Produced by the German manufacturer Faun, the trailers are making their United States debut after being used with success for decades in Europe. An internal corkscrew compacts trash and binds liquid and solid waste, reducing odor as well as corrosion damage to the unit, providing an extended lifespan. The system is also lighter than current onboard trash compactors, allowing the vehicles to carry up to 14 tons of waste.

The company boasts that the new system has other advantages over traditional garbage trucks — the truck/trailer combination has a turning radius 40 percent better than its counterparts and allows for a quick switch of tow vehicles should the trucks break down on their routes. The new vehicles will also be more fuel efficient than their counterparts.

“The new Rotopress will help contribute toward our corporate sustainability goal to reduce fuel efficiency by 15 percent and decrease emissions by 15 percent by 2020,” says Waste Management fleet and logistics vice president Eric Woods. “Our plan is to save 350 million gallons of fuel and reduce 3.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2020.”

Pictured: Trailerless version of Faun Rotopress garbage truck